Anchoring system for expandable tubulars

ABSTRACT

A system for subterranean deployment in a wellbore comprising: an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses is disclosed.

BACKGROUND

In the resource exploration and recovery industry, liners may be employed when a wellbore is expanded beyond an existing casing. A running tool supports the liner when being tripped into the wellbore. Once the liner is in place, an expansion cone may be activated to expand a region of the liner into mechanical engagement with the casing. Once the liner is in place, the running tool may be released and withdrawn from the wellbore. At this point, the liner may be cemented in place. Multiple cementing operations interspersed with hanging liners takes time requires multiple trips into the wellbore. Accordingly, the art would appreciate a liner hanger that could be deployed to a wellbore that has already been cemented.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a system for subterranean deployment in a wellbore comprising: an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses is disclosed.

Also disclosed is a resource exploration and recovery system, comprising: a first system, a second system fluidically connected to the first system through one or more tubulars, the one or more tubulars including an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 depicts a resource exploration and recovery system including an expandable tubular having an anchoring system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts an expandable tubular including an anchoring system, in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a plurality of anchoring elements of the anchoring system arranged in the tubular of FIG. 2, in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a detail view illustrating the anchoring elements arranged in recesses formed in an outer surface of the tubular of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the anchoring elements of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the expandable tubular of FIG. 2 prior to expansion; and

FIG. 7 depicts a partial cross-sectional side view of the expandable tubular of FIG. 2 after to expansion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

A resource exploration and recovery system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is indicated generally at 10, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Resource exploration and recovery system 10 should be understood to include well drilling operations, completions, resource extraction and recovery, CO₂ sequestration, and the like. Resource exploration and recovery system 10 may include a first system 14 which, in some environments, may take the form of a surface system 16 operatively and fluidically connected to a second system 18 which, in some environments, may take the form of a downhole system.

First system 14 may include a control system 23 that may provide power to, monitor, communicate with, and/or activate one or more downhole operations as will be discussed herein. Surface system 16 may include additional systems such as pumps, fluid storage systems, cranes and the like (not shown). Second system 18 may include a tubular string 30 that extends into a wellbore 34 formed in formation 36. Wellbore 34 includes an annular wall 38 which may be defined by a surface of formation 36, or, in the embodiment shown, by a casing tubular 40.

In an embodiment, tubular string 30 supports an expanding tubular 44 having an outer surface 46 having an anchoring system 48 that is formed from a number of anchor rings, one of which is indicated at 50. Expandable tubular 44 includes a first diameter portion 54, a second diameter portion 56 that is less than first diameter portion 54 and a tapered region 58 extending therebetween.

Reference will now follow to FIGS. 3-5 in describing anchor ring 50 of anchor system 48 with an understanding that additional anchor rings (not separately labeled) may include similar structure. Anchor ring 50 includes a first plurality of discrete recesses, one of which is indicated at 63 that extend annularly about outer surface 46. A second plurality of discrete recesses, one of which is indicated at 68 extends annularly about outer surface 46 spaced from first plurality of discrete recesses 63 by a continuous recess 72.

In an embodiment, a first plurality of anchoring elements, one of which is indicated at 74, is arranged in corresponding ones of the first plurality of discrete recesses 63. A second plurality of anchoring elements, one of which is indicated at 76, is arranged in corresponding ones of the second plurality of discrete recesses 68. Each of the first and second pluralities of anchoring elements 74 and 76 take the form of carbide buttons, such as indicted at 80 with respect to anchoring element 74. Each carbide button 80 includes one or more tooth elements 82 that are designed to “bite” into annular wall 38.

In an embodiment, each of the first plurality of discrete recesses 63 may be defined by an axially elongated hole 83 having a major dimension (not separately labeled) and a minor dimension (also not separately labeled). Each anchoring element 74 may include a substantially circular shape having a diameter that is smaller than the minor dimension. In this manner, each of the first plurality of anchoring elements 74 may be received in a corresponding one of the first plurality of discrete recesses 68 with an interference fit.

In an embodiment, anchor ring 50 includes a band 84 that may extend over first plurality of anchoring elements 74 and, in accordance with one exemplary aspect, over second plurality of anchoring elements 76. More specifically, band 84 may include a first band portion 88 that extends about first plurality of anchor elements 74, a second band portion 90 that extends about second plurality of anchor elements 76, and a seal portion 92 that extend about continuous annular recess 72. In accordance with an exemplary aspect, first band portion 88, second band portion 90 and seal portion 92 may be integrally formed. It should be understood however that the particular configuration of first band portion 88, second band portion 90, and seal portion 92 may vary and may depend upon a configuration of anchoring elements arranged on outer surface 46.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A system for subterranean deployment in a wellbore comprising: an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses.

Embodiment 2

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a band extending about the expandable tubular over the plurality of anchoring elements.

Embodiment 3

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the band is formed from an elastomer.

Embodiment 4

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a continuous annular recess extending about the expandable tubular adjacent to the plurality of discrete recesses.

Embodiment 5

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a seal arranged in the continuous annular recess.

Embodiment 6

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the seal is linked to the band.

Embodiment 7

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the seal is formed from an elastomer.

Embodiment 8

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein each of the plurality of anchoring elements are received in corresponding ones of the plurality of recesses through an interference fit.

Embodiment 9

A resource exploration and recovery system, comprising: a first system, a second system fluidically connected to the first system through one or more tubulars, the one or more tubulars including an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses.

Embodiment 10

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a band extending about the expandable tubular over the plurality of anchoring elements.

Embodiment 11

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the band is formed from an elastomer.

Embodiment 12

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a continuous annular recess extending about the expandable tubular adjacent to the plurality of discrete recesses.

Embodiment 13

The system according to any previous embodiment, further comprising: a seal arranged in the continuous annular recess.

Embodiment 14

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the seal is linked to the band.

Embodiment 15

The system according to any previous embodiment, wherein the seal is formed from an elastomer.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for subterranean deployment in a wellbore comprising: an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses.
 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a band extending about the expandable tubular over the plurality of anchoring elements.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the band is formed from an elastomer.
 4. The system according to claim 2, further comprising: a continuous annular recess extending about the expandable tubular adjacent to the plurality of discrete recesses.
 5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising: a seal arranged in the continuous annular recess.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the seal is linked to the band.
 7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the seal is formed from an elastomer.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of anchoring elements are received in corresponding ones of the plurality of recesses through an interference fit.
 9. A resource exploration and recovery system, comprising: a first system, a second system fluidically connected to the first system through one or more tubulars, the one or more tubulars including an expandable tubular including an outer surface having a plurality of discrete recesses extending annularly about the expandable tubular; and a plurality of anchoring elements arranged in corresponding ones of the plurality of discrete recesses.
 10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising: a band extending about the expandable tubular over the plurality of anchoring elements.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the band is formed from an elastomer.
 12. The system according to claim 10, further comprising: a continuous annular recess extending about the expandable tubular adjacent to the plurality of discrete recesses.
 13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising: a seal arranged in the continuous annular recess.
 14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the seal is linked to the band.
 15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the seal is formed from an elastomer. 